Youville Centre News Fall / Winter 2013 Youville Centre Graduates Shine at Shepherd’s Ooh ‘n Ahh Fashion Show & Auction On Tuesday, October 22nd, 2013, over 400 guests gathered at the Ottawa Conference and Event Centre to enjoy an evening of fashion, food and fundraising in support of Youville Centre’s young mothers and their children. Raising just over $50,000; the Ooh ‘n Ahh Fashion Show and Auction combined a fashion show, rafe and door prizes, silent and live auctions, and special presentations. Hosted by Marlene Shepherd of Shepherd’s Fashions, the evening began with a welcome from Youville Centre’s Executive Director, Cindy Simpson, followed by a passionate, courageous speech by Clarissa Arthur. Clarissa, Youville Centre's Child Development Program Coordinator, has a unique perspective to bring to our clients as a former Youville Centre student herself, having graduated in 1996. This was Sophie Hardy, Youville Centre demonstrated during her speech that evening when Clarissa stated: Graduate from the class of 1992 shone brightly on the runway "Having Youville Centre in my life has been like being given a gift. in a dazzling dress from Shepherd's Fashions. Everyday I can say I walk with purpose. The students have told me that seeing my graduation picture on the wall and hearing my story PHOTO CREDIT: Gregory Kolz is an inspiration, but this is not only my story; it can be theirs too." After Clarissa’s speech, Marlene and her colleague Sam Poole put on a fabulous fashion show, highlighting a wide range of clothing styles for all ages, shapes and sizes. As a special fashion show fnale, six Youville Centre alumnae proudly walked the runway in beautiful evening wear provided by Shepherd’s Fashions, with hair and makeup by The Loft/Le Spa. It was a moment to remember for Youville Centre graduates Sophie, Amanda, Tammy, Chloe, Nicole and Clarissa as they shone on the runway. Clarissa was joined by her son Dyon and her daughter Tyannah. The evening wrapped up with a Live Auction expertly hosted by Leanne Cusack and Michael O’Byrne, followed by the rafe prize draw which resulted in seven lucky guests going home with unbelievable gift baskets. Thank you to everyone who attended this amazing event, and to all who contributed to make it a success! Please take a look at the special insert in this newsletter that recognizes the wonderful sponsors who generously donated their time, goods and services to this event. Youville Centre Alumnae Models, L to R: Chloe Holm-Andrew, Nicole Summers, Amanda Edoo, Clarissa Arthur, Tammy Charette and Sophie Hardy. PHOTO CREDIT: Melanie Shields Photography Bayshore Shopping Centre herself has lived, so this amazing event meant so much more than the opportunity to meet a Gives Oprah-Inspired Gift ‘celebrity’. to Youville Centre On the heels of this inspiring event, we received yet another call from Bayshore Shopping Centre. At the Last April, in advance of “An Evening With Oprah” event there had been a contest to win a $10,000 at Scotiabank Place (now Canadian Tire Centre), shopping spree at Bayshore, and no one had Bayshore Shopping Centre made it possible for claimed the winning ticket. Given this circumstance, Youville Centre to make a request to Oprah’s the Bayshore team met and discussed their options, production company. As a result of our letter, and they made the extremely generous and Oprah herself generously donated 50 free tickets charitable decision to gift the $10,000 shopping to us for her keynote event which took place on spree to Youville Centre! Wednesday, April 10th, 2013. Due to her generosity, Youville Centre students and some Our team was absolutely overwhelmed by this accompanying staf members were fortunate to news and it strengthened even further our belief have the once in a lifetime opportunity to hear that our Ottawa community is flled with kind and Oprah speak her words of wisdom, live and on generous individuals. After a meeting with our stage in our home city of Ottawa! entire multi-disciplinary team, our staf set out on a shopping spree for items such as: toys and supplies The day before the event, our contacts at Bayshore for our childcare rooms, ftness clothing and shoes Shopping Centre called us to inform us that two of for our Phys. Ed program, television monitors to our young moms would have the opportunity to display information and photos in our centre, and meet Oprah in the V.I.P. reception! Two of our other crucial audio-visual equipment to help our graduates’ names were drawn from a hat, and 21st Century learners, and a multitude of other when they were informed, the happy tears started materials to support our innovative programming. to fow, as meeting Oprah was never something our young moms ever thought would happen in Our utmost gratitude goes to Bayshore Shopping their wildest dreams. Many of our students have Centre and Ivanhoe Cambridge for their generosity been through similar experiences that Oprah in providing us with an Oprah experience to remember, and essential resources to augment our programs. Special thanks to Angie Russell and her team. One of our students said it best when she expressed her gratitude: “I want to thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to see Oprah. I think this was such a great opportunity and it really did change my outlook on life. I wish every young mother could have shared this experience with me, but I am lucky that I was so fortunate to see her. Thank you so much, I cannot express my gratitude enough!” Executive Director Cindy Simpson (L) introduced Angie Russell (Bayshore Shopping Centre, Ivanhoe Cambridge) to Oceanna, one of our infants in the Dafodil program. Youville Centre News from Wabano performed Aboriginal songs and drumming, and Youville Centre’s young moms sang and danced to ‘Roar’ by Katy Perry. This song was chosen for its themes of empowerment and self–advocacy, and our clients dressed in animal print to fully express the concept. Youville’s young mothers put on a confdent and powerful performance, and staf surprised the other guests by joining into the dance part of the way through, much like a ‘fash mob’. It was a wonderful show of solidarity from our students, who understood fully that the award would go towards continuing to provide addiction counselling to Youville Students Brittany, Kristin and Julie, seen here in their 'Roar'-themed attire, Youville Centre and the other three enjoyed performing with their fellow classmates at the celebration. partner agencies. Introduced at this event was a compelling report, United Way Project s.t.e.p. compiled by Measured Outcomes, called 'Breaking the Cycle, Building Hope', that analysed surveys Agencies Celebrate their completed by youth and staf at the four agencies. Successes and Receive Award Among other successes, it reported that 70 percent of youth surveyed from On Thursday, November 7th, Youville Centre joined the above agencies had with the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health, reduced or stopped their We Couldn’t Have Operation Come Home and the Eastern Ontario substance use with the Youth Justice Agency to receive a $25,000 award implementation of the Done it Without from Eva’s Initiatives with The Sprott Foundation and Project s.t.e.p. program. The generous support of our community Virgin Unite. Eva’s Initiatives is based in Toronto and At Youville Centre, the makes a variety of programs and services they work toward preventing, reducing and ending counselling we are able possible at Youville Centre. Thank you to the youth homelessness. All four agencies are some of to provide due to following individuals and organizations for the partners involved in an initiative called Project support from United contributing to our work with two generations: s.t.e.p. (support, treatment, education, prevention). Way Ottawa and Project Project s.t.e.p. addresses youth addiction in Ottawa, s.t.e.p. allows our clients TELUS Community Afairs and it is championed by community leaders such as to work towards – Employee Contributions Mauril Belanger, MP for Ottawa–Vanier, and Senator stabilizing their lives so Hassa Mirchandani and Bytown Vern White. It is the belief of all Project s.t.e.p. partners that they can thrive as a Travel Ltd. – 18th Annual Golf Classic that by working to treat and prevent youth addiction, parent and in the Donations in Memory of youth homelessness will also be addressed. classroom. We would like Bob Couchman Facilitated by United Way Ottawa, the event on to express our thanks to Peter Harris November 7th was held at the Wabano Centre for Eva’s Initiatives, The Aboriginal Health, and it allowed each agency to Sprott Foundation and Jessica Aldred Virgin Unite for selecting graciously accept the shared award in person. The The Imperial Oil Foundation the Project s.t.e.p. event was made special by art on display created by courtesy of Mr. Donald Eldon clients of the Eastern Ontario Youth Justice Agency partners for this award. (EOYJA), and performances from clients served by the Aurelia Mauro other partner agencies: a poem was read by a youth served by Operation Come Home, clients and staf Fall / Winter 2013 To Donate: Yes, I/We wish to support The Youville Centre, an innovative centre that motivates, educates and nurtures young mothers and their children. Name ______________________________ Address ____________________________ Telephone __________________________ I/We wish to contribute $ ______________ per month, commencing _____________ . I/We wish to contribute $ ______________ L to R: Michelle Torunski, Megan Wallace, Shannon Gorman, at this time. Stephanie McGregor, Lisa Larter, Jennifer Clark Payment to be made by: Mentorship Program Launches ____Cheque ____Visa ____MC ____Amex On Wednesday, October 9th, Youville Centre’s Mentorship Program Card# ______________________________ ofcially launched with its frst Lunch ‘n Learn.